CABINET OFFICE

City Deal

Greg Clark: Following the successful completion of the first wave of city deals in July 2012 with the “core cities”, the Government committed to work with a further 20 cities and their wider areas to negotiate a second wave of city deals in October 2012.
	I can today inform the House that the Government, local businesses and civic leaders from Leicester and Leicestershire have reached agreement on a city deal.
	The Leicester and Leicestershire city deal aims to halve youth unemployment by 2018 through a “Young Persons Pledge”. This pledge commits the area to provide all 16 to 24-year-olds with the chance to secure sustained employment or education and training and will be underpinned by the Leicester and Leicestershire “to work” programme.
	The city deal will also provide funding to support the expansion of Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Parks and unlock the development of a new Advanced Technology Innovation Centre.
	Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will also be supported to grow through the provision of tailored business support programmes. This scheme will enhance signposting of business support services and will establish grant schemes targeted at small/micro businesses and at medium-sized businesses that have the potential for further growth.
	Business and civic leaders in Leicester and Leicestershire anticipate that the deal will create 4,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships, create 1,400 new jobs and safeguard a further 400, and support £130 million of public and private sector investment.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Owen Paterson: The next Agriculture and Fisheries Council will be on 24 March in Brussels. The Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Camborne and Redruth (George Eustice), who is responsible for farming, food and marine environment, will represent the UK. Richard Lochhead MSP will also attend.
	There are both fisheries and agriculture items on this month’s agenda.
	On agriculture the Commission will present proposals for regulations on the provision and promotion measures for agricultural markets, which are currently under
	negotiation. There will possibly be a proposal regarding organic production and labelling of organic products. There will be a report from the Commission on mandatory country of origin labelling for meat used as an ingredient, which will be followed by an exchange of views. The report highlights the high costs of legislation on this issue and the European Commission has not proposed any action at this stage: the UK will resist new measures that would add to business costs. There may also be a presentation of a report from the Commission on the reform of the fruit and vegetable sector and a presidency report on the situation in the dairy sector.
	On fisheries there will be an exchange of views on the recently concluded mackerel and the EU/Norway bilateral negotiations. This will highlight the agreement that has been reached between the EU, Norway and Faroe islands on the management of north-east Atlantic mackerel. The sand eel total allowable catch (TAC) for 2014 may be adopted at this Council. There is one “any other business” item that has been requested by Spain regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
	The presidency has also invited Ministers to a lunch to discuss international agricultural trade issues.

Veterinary Products Committee

George Eustice: I have received the annual report of the Veterinary Products Committee and its Sub-Committee 2013, which has been published today.
	Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	I am pleased to acknowledge the valuable work done by the distinguished members of the Veterinary Products Committee and its Sub-Committee and thank them for the time and effort dedicated in the public interest to this important work.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Foreign Affairs Council/General Affairs Council

David Lidington: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 March, and I attended the General Affairs Council on 18 March. The Foreign Affairs Council was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, and the General Affairs Council was chaired by the Greek presidency. The meetings were held in Brussels/Luxembourg.
	Commissioners Füle (Enlargement) and Oettinger (Energy) were in attendance for some of the discussions at the FAC. Commissioners Reding (Justice) and Füle (Enlargement) were in attendance for some of the discussions at the GAC.
	Foreign Affairs Council (FAC)
	A provisional report of the meeting and conclusions adopted can be found at:
	http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/141614.pdf.
	Middle East Peace Process
	Baroness Ashton briefed Ministers on work to prepare the “unprecedented package” of incentives promised in December’s Council conclusions. Following the FAC, Baroness Ashton stated publicly that the EU would offer “huge opportunities” for market integration and co-operation on security, research and innovation, and that the EU could support the parties in the fields of transport, energy, water, the environment and people-to-people links.
	Iran
	Baroness Ashton briefed Ministers on her 8-10 March visit to Iran. She had met human rights activists and the Iranian Government had signalled their disapproval. She noted that the EU’s special representative for human rights would visit shortly. Baroness Ashton also noted that E3+3 talks with Iran would resume on 18 March to continue discussions towards a comprehensive agreement on the nuclear file.
	Middle East and North Africa
	On Syria, Baroness Ashton noted that UN Special Envoy Brahimi was pushing for further talks between the regime and opposition. On Iraq, Baroness Ashton explained that the security situation made a full election observation mission of the 30 April elections impossible. Instead, the EU would send election experts to work with domestic observers. On Libya, Baroness Ashton thanked Italy for organising the 6 March Rome Ministerial meeting.
	Bosnia and Herzegovina
	Baroness Ashton briefed on her 12 March visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). She had passed a strong message that BiH needed leadership and that progress could not wait until after elections. The EU should consider stepping up engagement with BiH, which should encourage leaders to respond to the socio-economic demands of recent protests. Baroness Ashton stated that she expected conclusions to be prepared for the April FAC.
	EU-Africa Summit
	Baroness Ashton briefed the Council on preparations for the fourth EU/Africa summit, which is to take place in Brussels on 2-3 April under the theme “Investing in people, prosperity and peace”. In addition, there will be an EU/Africa Ministerial meeting on 1 April, in advance of the summit. Conclusions were adopted on a number of African files, including on responding to the security challenges of the Gulf of Guinea, the situation in South Sudan, the Sahel and the Central African Republic (CAR).
	Ukraine
	The Foreign Secretary updated the House on 18 March on the situation in Ukraine, including on the actions agreed by the Foreign Affairs Council, 18 March 2014, Official Report, column 650. At the FAC, Ministers strongly condemned the holding on 16 March of an illegal “referendum” in Crimea on joining the Russian Federation, in clear breach of the Ukrainian constitution. The EU does not recognise the illegal “referendum” and its outcome.
	In line with the statement of the EU leaders of 6 March, the FAC adopted the package of sanctions against 21 individuals in Crimea and Russia who were threatening Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The targets
	include Crimean political leaders, Russian parliamentarians, and Russian military commanders. Baroness Ashton outlined EU support to Ukraine and Ministers endorsed the signing of the political chapters of EU/Ukraine association agreement at the 20-21 March European Council. Conclusions were agreed setting out EU concerns, noting the sanctions, and repeating existing language about possible further measures.
	Ministers also emphasised the importance of signing the association agreements with Georgia and Moldova.
	Energy diplomacy
	Ministers discussed EU energy diplomacy over a lunch which Commissioner Oettinger attended. As well as focusing on the immediate situation in Ukraine, Ministers considered the issue from a strategic viewpoint. The Foreign Secretary stressed how energy security would play an increasingly prominent part in the future of foreign policy, and encouraged consideration of options for decreasing dependency on any single particular source.
	Other business
	Ministers agreed without discussion a number of other measures:
	The Council adopted a decision on the amendment of a specific protocol to each of the euro/Mediterranean association agreements as concerns the concept of “originating products”.
	The Council updated the EU’s common military list, which defines the scope of EU rules on arms exports as set out in Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment.
	The Council approved revised guidelines on the appointment, mandate and financing of EU special representatives.
	The Council amended the restrictive measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo so as to implement changes decided in UN Security Council resolution 2136 (2014) of 30 January 2014.
	The Council adopted a crisis management concept for a civilian mission under the common security and defence policy to assist the internal security forces in Mali so as to enable the Malian state to ensure law and order and fight against terrorists, organised crime and cross-border trafficking.
	The Council authorised the opening of negotiations for an agreement on the participation of the Swiss confederation in the EU integrated border management assistance mission in Libya (EUBAM LIBYA).
	The Council approved conclusions on West Africa’s Economic Partnership Agreement Development programme.
	The Council adopted the conclusions on the EU common position for the first high-level meeting of the global partnership for effective development co-operation, which will take place in Mexico City on 15-16 April 2014.
	The Council adopted conclusions on the European Court of Auditors’ special report No. 9/2013 on EU support for governance in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
	General Affairs Council (GAC)
	The 18 March GAC focused on: preparation for the March European Council; the European semester; and the Commission’s communication on the rule of law.
	A provisional report of the meeting can be found at:
	http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/genaff/141629.pdf.
	The Preparation of the March European Council
	The GAC discussed the March European Council (20 and 21 March), both in the plenary session of the General Affairs Council and over lunch with the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy.
	The main focus of this European Council is the situation in Ukraine. In addition, the Council has a full agenda covering: the energy and climate 2030 package; the European semester; industrial policy; and EU/Africa relations including the preparations for the EU/Africa summit to be held on 2 and 3 April.
	Following the Foreign Affairs Council’s extensive discussion on Ukraine on 17 March, the GAC concentrated more on the other European Council agenda items, though there was a substantial discussion at the Ministerial lunch. On the climate and energy 2030 package, I again stressed the importance of aiming for an ambitious outcome at the March Council, but made clear that member states needed flexibility to de-carbonise in the most effective way. The issue is not only about climate, but also ensuring Europe’s long-term energy security needs are met. On industrial policy, I said that it was important to create the right conditions to encourage re-shoring and investment in Europe by reducing unnecessary burdens in key industrial sectors and creating a regulatory environment that drives innovation, industrial growth and competiveness. The GAC also discussed widening the scope of the EU/Africa discussion to include trade, development and economic partnership.
	The European Semester
	The GAC endorsed the presidency synthesis report on the 2014 European semester for further discussion at the March European Council.
	Commission Communication on the Rule of Law
	The GAC received a presentation by the Commission of its communication on the rule of law mechanism and had a preliminary exchange of views. I made it clear that the focus on political dialogue and systemic threats was a step forward from earlier ideas but noted the need for further discussion after member states had considered the communication in detail.
	Subsidiarity
	Over lunch, ministers had a discussion on the principle of subsidiarity, following interventions by different member states, including the UK, at previous Council meetings. Germany and the Netherlands said that the EU needed to focus in the areas of its competence where it could add most value. I agreed and said this was a crucial debate at the right time given the upcoming institutional refresh.

Illegal Wildlife Trade

William Hague: On 12 and 13 February I chaired the London conference on the illegal wildlife trade, which was organised by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Home Office. I would like to inform the House of the outcomes of the conference and to explain how the UK Government will take forward further action to combat the illegal wildlife trade.
	The London conference brought together over 50 countries and international organisations to agree new and bold measures to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, signalling a new level of political commitment to
	tackle the issue. As well as the devastating consequences for biodiversity and the environment, the illegal wildlife trade is a serious criminal industry worth billions of pounds, which damages local communities and sustainable development, particularly in Africa.
	Participating Governments at the conference agreed a political declaration that should mark the turning point in the fight to save endangered species and to end the illegal wildlife trade. Governments committed to action designed to strengthen law enforcement, reduce demand and support alternative livelihoods of communities affected by poaching and the trafficking. Notably, Governments committed themselves for the first time to renounce the use of products from species threatened with extinction, which sends the strong signal that Governments will not procure the things that drive demand for illegal wildlife products. Governments also went further than earlier commitments and promised to support the current position within the convention on the international trade in endangered species of flora and fauna (CITES) to prohibit commercial, international trade in elephant ivory until the survival of elephants in the wild was no longer threatened by poaching. Governments also committed to treating poaching and trafficking in wildlife as a serious, organised crime; the same category as trafficking in drugs, arms and people.
	Implementation of all the commitments made in the political declaration will be reviewed at a follow-up conference, to be held in Botswana in early 2015.
	The London conference also provided a platform for Governments to make new commitments, including the elephant protection initiative, launched by the Governments of Botswana, Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon and Tanzania. These Governments committed to an extended moratorium on the sale of ivory and also to put all ivory stocks beyond economic use, showing their determination that it is the elephants that hold value for them and their communities, not their tusks. In response, the partners would access a fund to support measures contained in the African elephant action plan. Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) committed to match the first tranche of private sector finding for the elephant protection initiative, amounting to £1 million.
	The UK Government’s approach to tackling the illegal wildlife trade following the London conference is set out in the UK Government “Commitment to Action”, published on 5 February 2014. This includes the provision of a £10 million fund to help Governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and charities tackle illegal wildlife crime across the world and help deliver the outcomes of the London conference; continued funding and active engagement and leadership in CITES; and a guarantee of funding for the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) until 2016. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue to use its network of diplomatic posts to influence international efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade, including through supporting anti-poaching and trafficking initiatives, promoting demand reduction measures and providing support to the Government of Botswana in preparing for the follow-up conference on the illegal wildlife trade in early 2015.
	I have laid a copy of the “London Declaration on the Illegal Wildlife Trade”, and of the “Elephant Protection Initiative”, in the Library of the House.

TRANSPORT

InterCity East Coast Franchise

Patrick McLoughlin: On Friday, 21 March 2014, I published the invitation to tender (ITT) for the InterCity East Coast franchise. This marks the next step in the formal competition to find a new private sector partner to run passenger rail services on the east coast main line.
	I have also published the InterCity East Coast stakeholder briefing document, which provides an update to the InterCity East Coast consultation summary report published in October 2013.
	The ITT asks bidders to set out detailed proposals on what improvements for passengers they will deliver and how they will build on the multi-billion pound investment planned for the east coast main line and should they win the franchise. The invitation to tender includes:
	the requirement to introduce the new world-class fleet of trains from the inter-city express programme;
	continuation of services to all current destinations;
	faster, more frequent services to/from King’s Cross by May 2020;
	faster average journey times to Leeds and Edinburgh from May 2020;
	the potential for improved services to destinations such as Lincoln;
	an opportunity for bidders to serve five new routes including Huddersfield, Scarborough, Harrogate (via York), Middlesbrough and Sunderland (via Newcastle); and
	a fund that will drive innovation for passengers and deliver long-term benefits for the franchise and wider rail industry.
	It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be announced in November and that the new franchise will start in March 2015 and run for eight years and four weeks, with a possible one year extension callable at my sole discretion.
	Services along the east coast main line are set to be transformed over the coming years through £240 million worth of investment which will improve reliability and boost capacity for passengers and freight. The route will also benefit from the Government’s £5.8 billion inter-city express programme, which is set to deliver a new fleet of state-of-the-art trains which will improve journey times and deliver a boost to the customer experience.